KC police officer kills man in downtown shooting

Officer says Ryan Stokes, 24, pointed gun during chase

Kansas City Police say an officer fatally shot a man during a foot chase near the Power and Light District after the man refused an order to drop his gun.

KC police officer kills man in downtown shooting

Officer says Ryan Stokes, 24, pointed gun during chase

Updated: 12:06 AM CDT Jul 29, 2013

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

A Kansas City police officer fatally shot a man northeast of the Power and Light District early Sunday.

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Police said the officer responded to a call that someone had been stealing something near 13th Street and Grand Boulevard about 3 a.m.

The officer began to run after the man and said the man pointed a gun at him. The officer ordered the man to drop the gun. When he didn't, the officer fired a shot, killing him.

The man was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police identified him as Ryan Stokes, 24.

Kansas City police said the shooting remains under investigation. The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave, a routine move in such cases.

The shooting comes less than 24 hours after Kansas City, Kan., police shot a man who had struck an officer with his car.

The incident had a lot of people in downtown Kansas City talking Sunday.

"It's a shame. It's a busy area and there are a lot of people around, especially at two in the morning," said Greg McCarron of Kansas city. "Things like this are going to happen if the officer felt like his life was in danger, especially if the guy had a gun. It's a shame that things like this will happen."

"I feel bad that the gentleman was shot and killed," said Justin Karleski, who came to the Power and Light District to watch a soccer game Sunday afternoon. "If someone commits a crime, they should be punished and not in the way of death."

The two men said they have expectations of police.

"They do have to protect you, and it sounds like they did what they had to do," said McCarron.

"I expect them to keep us all safe, you know? We are all just out here trying to have a good time," said Karleski.